The reading for Sunday is Matthew 26:36-75.
We are adding a new step, so if you haven’t been using a notebook or recording your thoughts somewhere, please consider starting that now. When you record your thoughts, you will begin to hear more and you can reflect back on what you have heard.
Okay, now that your notebook or computer or whatever is ready, let’s move on…
When it is time to read, please start first by praying and thanking God for His many blessings. Be specific.
Record your thank you’s on paper or on the computer.
Next present your requests to Him. Ask Him for whatever you want and need. As you do, record your requests and questions on paper or on the computer.
Third, ask Him to guide you in your reading, so that you will hear his message for you today.
After you read, record your SOAP observations and then listen for three minutes. Set a timer and just listen to what he might be sharing. Don’t ask. Don’t thank. Just listen. (You can pray more after you listen, if you like.)
Today Austin, a teen who is SOAPing and blogging with us, is our guest SOAP’er. Here is what Austin heard in the reading:
Scripture: Matthew 26:69-70
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
Observation:
This is the first of three times that Peter denies Jesus. As I was reading this passage I was reminded of some verses earlier in the chapter:
“Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me,”…Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.” -Matthew 26:31, 33-35
Peter thought he knew himself. He would never disown Jesus! But Jesus knew Peter better then Peter knew himself. We find Peter in verses 69-75 fearing for his life and trying to disconnect all of his ties from Jesus.
Application:
Do we really know what we’d do if we were in Peter’s position? I don’t think so. While we may not publicly disown Jesus and say “I don’t know Him,” do we say the same thing in other ways? How about it the movies we watch? The music we listen to, or the books we read? How about the kind of people we hang out with? If we aren’t careful, by reading or viewing or listening or by the people we hang out with we may not-so-silently disown Jesus. Is that what we want? Do we try so hard to “fit in with the crowd” that we don’t stand up for what we believe?
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for letting me read this passage today. Help me to see in my life how I may be disowning You, and please help me to find the will and the power to stop doing those things by which I disown You. I love you Lord. Amen.
Austin M. is a Tennessee teen whose interests include reading, geocaching, and nature photography. Read his blog at: www.tennesseephotographer.blogspot.com
What about you? What did you see and hear in your reading of Matthew 26:36-75?
And how do you keep from disowning Jesus?
Please share with the rest of us, if you are comfortable doing so. Feel free to leave your thoughts, or a link to post with your thoughts, in the comments. If you do link a post, please include a link in your own post back to this post so your readers can see what others had to say, as well, and potentially join us.
Didn’t start reading or Blogging Through the Gospels with us? That’s okay, join in anytime. Each Sunday evening I post the reading schedule for the week ahead and each evening I post the next day’s reading assignment and devotional. Feel free to jump in where we are anytime and blog or journal along using the SOAP format. If you would be interested in sharing your own SOAP observations on MomsToolbox as a guest SOAP’er, please send me an email using the contact button on the top right. I’ll be in touch soon to discuss the details.
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